Multiple-fuse cartridge.



F. A. FELDKAMP.

MULTIPLE FUSE CARTRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6,1916. 1,254,490.

Patented Jan.' 22, 1918 ATTORNEYS.

FREDERICK A. FELDKAMP, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MULTIPLE-FUSE CARTRIDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Application ledlovemher 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,645.

To all whom z't 'may concern:

lie it known that l, FREDERICK A. FELD- iiAMr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark. in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful ln'lprovements in Multiple- Fuse Cartridges; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exa-ct description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in fuse cartridges; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved construction of multiple fuse cartridge.

'lhe present invention has for its principal object to provide a very cheap, simply constructed and easily manipulated multiple fuse cartridge, having the general exterior construction and appearance of a single fuse cartridge, so that the same may be inserted in the usual manner between the cartridge receiving clips connected in the electric circuit to be served, but which is so constructed that its exposed end terminal caps may he successively electrically engaged, upon the performance of a simple operation, with the plurality of fuse elements contained within the interior of its casing until all of said fuse elements have been utilized or consumed.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide within the casing of my novel fuse cartridge means adapted to provide a separate containing chamber or compartment for each fuse element, of suiicient capacity as will permit of each fuse element being entirely and individually enveloped in or surrounded with the usual powdered filler commonly employed with cartridge fuses, and which is adapted to absorb the metallic vapors liberated upon the fusing v of the fuse elements; and whereby the fuse elements may be individually inclosed within a dry moisture-proof compartment.

Other objects of the presentinvention, not at. this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of the present invention in view.- the same consists, primarily, in the novel construction of multiple cartridge fuse hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, the invention consists in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my novel construction of multiple cartridge fuse; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, the interior parts thereof being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is va longitudinal section of the same, taken on line 3 3 in said Fig. 2.

Fig. et is a cross section of the same, taken on line 4 4 in said Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5 5 in said Fig. .2; Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6 6 in said Fig. 2; all of said sections beingviewed inthe direction of the arrow m.

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 7 8 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow y; and Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 7 8 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow a'.

Fig. 9 is a transverse longitudinal section taken on line 9 9 in said Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow z.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, toindicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the

' reference character 1 indicates a tubular casing constructed of some suitable insulating material. One end of said tubular casing 1 is closed by a fixed metallic terminal cap 2, which telescopes over the exterior surface of said casing 1, and which is immovably xed in such relation, as by means of fastening pins 3 passed transversely therethrough and into the body ofsaid casing 1. The opposite end of said tubular casing 1 is closed by a movable metallic terminal cap 4, which telescopes over the exterior surface of said casing l, and which is so connected therewith as to be capable of both a longitudinal movement and a rotary movement relative thereto. The means -forso securing said movable metallic terminal cap 4 comprises an inwardly turned annular. shoulder or rim 5, formed at the inner mar-V ginal edge of said terminal Vcap 4, which is engaged in an annular cutaway portion 6, formed in the exterior end surface of said loo casing 1, into which said shoulder or rim 5 enters, and in which the same moves. rll `he provision of this annular cutaway portion 6 serves to form an exterior annular shoulder or stop-portion 7 at the end of saidc'asing 1, against which said shoulder or rim 5 of the movable'terminal cap 4 is stopped to limit the outward longitudinal movement thereof. It will be understood that the construction and mutual arrangement of said stop-portion- 7 and the cooperating shoulder or rim 5 of said movable terminal cap are subject themselves to various mechanical modifications, and that other mechanical means to accomplish the function thereof may be substituted therefor, hence, I do not limit myself to the precise construction of such parts as above described, or as illustrated in the drawings.

The reference character 8 indicates a transverse partition block which is made of some suitable insulating or non-conducting material. This partition block is disposed within the casing 1, and is spaced inwardly from that end of said casing upon which is arranged said movable metallic terminal cap 4. Said partition block is provided about its circumference with depressed seats 9, spaced equidistant one from another. Extending outwardly from the bottom of each depressed seat 9 is an anchor-boss or keyblock 10, the top of which is flush with the circumference of said partition block. Said partition block is fixed in its proper position Within said casing 1 by means of fastening pins 11, which are driven through said casing 1 and thence into the body of said partition block 8. y

The interior sides of the casing 1 are provided with longitudinally directed channels or grooves 12, spaced equidistant one from another. Said partition block 8 is further provided with radially disposed slots or cross-cuts 13, extending inwardly from the j circumferential surface thereof. y.Said slots or cross-cuts'13 are registered or alined with said channeds or grooves 12 formed in the casing 1.

The reference character 14 indicates a plurality of angular or L-shaped partitionmembers, which arel constructed of insulating ber, or some suitable material which is a non-conductor and which possesses ythe requisite degree of rigidity for the purpose in view.` The said partition members 14 are placed apex to apex so as to converge at the longitudinal axis of the casing 1. As thus arranged the sides of one partition member are registered with an adjacent side of an adjoiningl partition member, and the 4free marginal edges thereof alined together. Each pair of alined marginal edges of the partition. members thus disposed are received in a channel or groove 12 of the casing l, and consequently the partition memnatacion bers are thereby immovably held in proper assembled relation within the casing 1, and serve to` divide said casing into a plurality of separate longitudinally extending fuse chambers or compartments 15, the inner ends of which are closed by the partition block 8 a ainst which the inner ends of said assemble partition members abut. The said partition members 14 are further provided, at the ends thereof which adjoin said partition block 8, with extension members 16 of reduced width, which extend through said slots or cross-cuts 13 of said partition block, and project slightly beyond the outer side of the latter, but terminate some distance short of the normal position of the end Wall of said `movable terminal cap 4. The opposite or outer ends of said partition members 4 14 terminate some distance short of the end wall of saidixed terminal cap 2, and said ends are cut away about the converging portions thereof to provide a receiving seat 17 the purpose of which will presently appear.

The reference character 18 indicates a plurality of contact-plates. Said contactplates are seated in said depressed seats.9 of said partition block 8, and each is provided' with an opening 19, conforming in outline to the outline of said anchor-bosses or key-blocks 10 projecting upwardly from saidseats 9, so as to receive said anchorbosses or key-blocks, which thus serve to retain said contact-plates 18 immovably related. lto said partition block. The rearward ends of said contact-plates 18 project beyond the outer side of said partition block 8 and between the extension member 16, and

tive fuse-chambers or compartments 15, and

are eachprovided with an anchor lug or tongue 21,'the latter being slightly depressed toward the longitudinal center of the'v fusechamber or .compartment 15 into which it extends.

Seated within the receiving-seat 17, at`

the outer ends of said partition members 14, is the spreader-head 22 of a contact-post 23, the end of which is riveted or otherwise secured, both mechanically and electrically, to the end wall 24 of said fixed-terminal lcap 2.

The reference character 25 indicates a plurality of fuse elements or wires. One

, end of each fuse element or wire is secured,

by solder or otherwise, to an anchor lug or tongue 21, and then the fuse element or wire4 is carried longitudinally through a fuse chamber or compartment l5, passed over said -spreader-head 22, and then secured to Said contact-post 23 by forming an embracing convolution 26 about the latter, or it may be secured in any other suitable manner. When the convolutions 26 are employed the same may be washed with solder to assure their fiXity. In this manner, it will be apparent, that each fuse-chamber or compartment 15 incloses a separate or individual fuse element or wire, which has a permanent electrical connection with said fixed terminal cap 2.

The means for connecting said plurality of fuse elements or wires, individually, successively or selectively, in an electric circuit to be served thereby, comprises a slightly resilient contact finger or arm 27, which is secured by its base-portion 28 to the inner side of the end wall 29 of said movable terminal cap 4, and the free end of which is selectively caused to electrically contact or engage the contact receiving portion 20 of one of' said contact-plates 18, when said movable terminal cap is moved inwardly to its normal operative relation to said casing 1.

The casing 1 may be provided on its exterior surface, adjacent to said movable terminal cap 4, with suitable graduations or indicating marks 30 denoting the position of said respective contact-plates 18, and in like manner the exterior surface of' said movable terminal cap maybe provided with a suitable indicating mark 31 denoting the position of said contact finger or arm 27, so that by selectively registering the mark 31 with one of the marks 30, the contact finger or arm 27 may be brought into electrical contact Vwith a desired contact-plate 18, and the fuse element or wire connected with the latter is thus electrically connected with said movable terminal cap 4.

lVhen one of the fuse-elements or wires 25 is thus electrically connected between the respective terminal caps 2 and 4, the cartridge may be connected in the electric circuit to be served by inserting the respective terminal caps 2 and 4 between the usual spring-like receiving clips connected in said circuit in the well known manner, so that the current passes from the fiXed terminal cap 2 through the fuse-element or wire and thence back to the line through said movable terminal cap 4, or vice versa.

W'hen the particular fuse'element or wire thus connected in the circuit is burned out or fused, the cartridge is removed from the receiving clips, and the movable terminal cap 4 moved longitudinally outward until stopped. This movement withdraws the contact finger or arm 27 from engagement with the contact-plate v18 of the burned out fuse (as illustrated by the dot-ted representation of the cap 4 and its contact finger or arm 27 shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings). This movement also withdraws the contact finger or arm 27 beyond the ends of said eX- tension members 16; Non' said movable te'rminal cap 4 may be given a partial rotation on the end of the casing 1 which will turn said contact finger or arm 274 to a point opposite the next adjoining contact-plate 18, then by pushing the cap 4 back to vnormal initial position, the said finger or arm 27 is thrust into electrical contact with said next adjoining contact-plate, and a new fuse-element or wire is electrically connected between the caps 2 and 4, so that the cartridge may be again inserted between the receiving clips of the circuit, ready for further service. These operations, of' course, may be repeated as often as required until all of the fuse elements or wires have been utilized.

While I have illustrated in the drawings a cartridge possessing four fuse compartments, each containing its individual fuse element or wire, it will be clearly understood that the number of such compartments and their fuse elements or wires may be decreased or increased within practical limits by such changes or additions to the partition members 14 and contact-plates 18 as may be necessary `to produce the desired number. Furthermore, the arrangment and construction of the partition members 14 are themselves subject to various mechanical modifications, so that I do not limit my invention, in its broader aspects, to the exact construction of said partition members herein shown and described.

It is further desired to call attention to the fact that each fuse chamber or compartment 15 as well as the space surrounding the contact post 23, is adapted to be filled with a desirable filler powder, or other similar material, such as is commonly used in fuse cartridges, and which is adapted to absorb the vapors generated by the burning of the iuse element or wire, although in order not to interfere with the clear illustration of the mechanical structure of my invention, graphic illustration of such filler has been omitted from the drawings. The disposition of the fuse-elements orwires in each compartment or chamber 15 is such that this filler powder may entirely surround and envelop the same as well as the anchor lugs or tongues 21. Each compartment confines a sufficient quantity of the filler powder to serve the needs of a single fuse element or wire, and since the entire bulk of the filler powder is thus subdivided by the partition members 14, any tendency of the finer and coarser particles thereof to stratify under vibration or handling of the fuse cartridges, which might tend to effect or modify the Xed rating of the fuse elements or wires, is largely, if not entirely eliminated.

In my novel construction of cartridge fuse each fuse element or wire is individually inclosed in its own chamber or compartment and securely isolated from contact A ,nu

with moisture, and consequently is maintained in that dry condition under which the most eiticient functioning of the same takes place, and under which danger of shoclgs through short circuiting is eliminated. Thls result is also largely contributed to by the heat generated by the current in passing through the active fuse element or Wire, the radiation of Which reaches the surrounding inactive fuse elements or Wires, and thus serves as a further aid in maintaining the same in dry condition.

By ixed terminal cap in the'claiins, I refer to the cap that is at the opposite end from the cap Ll; but do not intend to limit myself necessarily to a cap or other terminal thatJ has no movement With respect to the casing.

1. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a casing having external terminal caps on its opposite ends one of which is a lixed cap and the other capable of movement relative to said casing, a plurality of fuse elements Within said casin electrically connected at one end with the xed terminal cap, and means controlled by the movement of said movable terminal cap for electrically connecting any one of said fuse elements with said movable terminal ca Y 2. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a casing having external terminal caps on its opposite ends one of which is xed and the other capableof movement relative to said casing, a plurality of fuse elements Within said cas ing electrically connected at one end with the xed terminal cap, means controlled by the movement of said movable terminal ca for electrically connecting any one 0f sai fuse elements With said movable terminal cap, and radially disposed longitudinal partition members separating one fuse element from another.

3. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a casing, a fixed terminal cap on one end thereof, a movable terminal cap on the'other end thereof, a plurality of fuse elements longitudinally disposed Within said casing, a contact receiving means connected With one end of each fuse element, means for supportin said contact receiving means in insulate relation to each other, the opposite ends of said fuse elements being connected with said fixed terminal cap, and means operated by said movable terminal cap for selectively connecting the same With said contact receiving means.

4. A multiple fuse cartridge comprising a casing, a xed terminal cap on one end of said casing, a movable terminal cap on the opposite end of said casing, means for dividing the interior of said casing into separate longitudinal fuse compartments, a fuse element extending through each fuse compartment, means for connecting said intatte a casing, a portion of the interior of whichv is divided into a plurality of longitudinallyextending separate fuse compartments, a transverse partition at one end of said fuse compartments, contact plates extending through said partition respectively into each fuse compartment, fuse elements connected With said contact plates so as to be respectively inclosed in an individual fuse compartment, a fixed terminal cap on one 4end of said casing, means for connecting the free ends of said fuse elements With said iixed terminal cap, a` movable terminal cap on the opposite end of said casing, and a conducting means carried by said movable terminal cap extending into said casing to- Ward the outer side of said partition and adapted to be enga ed selectively With the external ends of said contact plates.

6. In a multiple fuse cartrldge, a casing, a fixed terminal cap at one end thereof, a movable terminal cap at the other end thereof capable of a limited longitudinal movement and a rotary movement, fuse-elements connected with said fixed terminal cap and extending into said casing, a fixed transverse partition having depressed seats in its circumference, contact plates supported in said seats, said fuse-elements bein connected respectively with the inner en s of said contact. plates, radially disposed longitudinal partition-members separating said fuse elements one from another, a contact finger connected with said movable terminal cap, saidcontact linger being moved by the longitudinal movement of said movable terminal cap into and out of engagement with the outer end of one contact plate, and b the rotary movement of the same after `isengagement from one contact plate being turned to a position opposite any other contact plate.

7. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a casing, a xed terminal cap on one end thereof, a movable terminal cap on the other end thereof capable of a limited longitudinal movement and a rotary movement, an interior fixed transverse partition adjacent to that end of said casing upon Which is arranged said movable termlnal cap, radially and longitudinally disposed partition members extending through said casing on the inner side of said transverse partition, a portion of said partition members providing extension members projecting through and beyond the outer side of said transverse partimembers extending through said transverse partition respectively into the chambers formed by said partition members, a fuse element connected with the inner ends of said contact plates and extending respectively through said chambers, means for connecting the free ends of said fuse elements With said fixed terminal cap, a contact finger secured to and extending into said casing from the end of said movable terminal cap, toward the outer ends of said contact plates, said contact finger being moved by the longitudinal movement of said movable terminal cap into or out of engagement With one contact-plate, and by the rotary movement of the same after disengagement from the contact plate being turned to a position opposite any other contact plate.

8. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a' casing provided in its interior sides with longitudinally extending grooves, a plurality of L-shaped partition members mutually arranged so that their apexes converge at the longitudinal axis of said casing, the marginal edges ofvsaid partition members being inserted in said grooves of said casing, a transverse partition member closing one end of the resr ective compartments formed by said parti-tion members, a fuse-element extending through each compartment formed by said partition members, contact receiving means extending through said transverse partition into each compartment to-Which said fuse-element therein is connected, a

fixed terminal cap on one end of said casingv with which the free ends of said fuse-elements are electrically connected, a movable terminal cap on the opposite end of said casing provided with means controlled by the movement thereof for electrically connecting a contact receiving means of any one fuse-element with the same.

9. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a casing, a fixed terminal cap telescoped over one end thereof, a movable terminal cap telescoped over the other end thereof capable of both longitudinal and rotary movement on said casing, means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said movable terminal cap, radially disposed longitudinal partition members disposed Within a portion of said casing intermediate of its ends to form individual fuse compartments, a transverse partition at one end of said longitudinal partition members, the same having depressed seats in its members, fuse elements respectively extending through each fuse compartment, an end of each fuse element being turned over said spreader head and secured to said contact post, the oppositev end of each fuse element being secured to a contact plate, a contact nger secured to and extending into said casing from said movable terminal cap, said Contact finger being moved by the longitudinal movement of said movable terminal cap into or out of engagement with the outer end of one Contact plate, and by the rotary movement of the same after disengagement from one contact plate being turned to a position opposite any other contact plate.

10. In a multiple fuse cartridge, a. casing, a movable terminal cap telescoped over one end of said casing capable of both longitudinal and rotary movement, radially disposed longitudinal partition members disposed Within said casing to form individual fuse compartments, a transverse partltion closing the endsof said compartments to- Ward said movable terminal' cap, contact plates extending through said transverse partition respectively into said compartments, fuse elements extending through each compartment and connected with thecontact plates, a contact finger secured to and extending into said casing from said mpvable terminal cap, said contact finger being controlled by the movement of said terminal cap to selectively engage said contact plates, an external contact-means on the op osite end of said casing, and means for electrically connecting said fuse-elements with said external contact means.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of October, 1916.

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FREDK H. W. FRAEN'rzEL. 

